Advice to upcoming engineers
So as I'm in 3rd year, these are the things I've learned so far as a 3rd year BTech student and from my diploma engineering, and I would like that coming juniors should know this.....
These 4 years are gonna decide your whole life, so remember it's not an enjoyment period, it should be your grind era.
Distance yourself from everyone, especially from those who make you feel demotivated and say your BTech degree will take you nowhere, they are simply making you like them..... In your first year you're a fresh brain with a lot of dreams and expectations and many assholes will make you question your life choices.... Listen dude, no college is good or bad and neither is it gonna decide your placement and future, it all lies in your own hands, so distance yourself from negative people.
Things now I'm gonna tell you, you should note them down right now and stick them somewhere on your wall....
Things which people say don't matter but really matter:
i) Attendance - If somehow you score low in internal exams, then based on your attendance your professor will give you internal marks cause your attendance shows how serious and attentive you are towards your degree.
ii) Internal Marks - Try to score as high as you can cause if the end sem paper is tough, it will save you from backlog.
iii) Internships - It really matters.... An internship from a reputed institution, organisation or company will enhance your resume.
iv) Projects - Do some good projects.... You can find good projects online and can copy them.... See, projects don't mean you should make something on your own, it means to add in the syllabus so students can learn by creating something which already exists..... Find models and projects related to your domain and learn from them.
v) Skills - Don't waste your time and start learning skills.... You should know at this point that if everybody around you is telling you to learn skills, then how important it really is.
Don't Overshare - Nazar is real and I'm the living proof... In my second year I cracked internships in IIT BHU, IIT Jodhpur, IIT Kanpur, IIT Roorkee, IIT Dharwad, IIT Ropar, MNIT Jaipur (4 internships) and BITS Pilani.... But couldn't join any of them and ended up interning at 400KV GSS as whenever I tried to join, some problem came and I had to leave the internship..... So never share, even if it's your best friend (mine cursed me that I wouldn't be able to join any of these internships as I didn't tell him while applying because he was not serious about internships. I started applying for internships 6 months earlier when my classmates were busy playing BGMI, I was emailing professors and doing research).
There's a myth that you should make a group of friends and enjoy your college life as it's for enjoying..... People created this mindset so no one wants to do hard work and people rely on each other... Like if my friend will do it, I'll do the same or I won't.... Start enjoying your own company.... Notice in your college, you'll see seniors or people who don't talk or yap with anyone, how much they have grown and achieved as compared to others....
Start using people.... It's a do or die scenario..... Use people or they will use you..... Take help for notes, study material or any other stuff you want (it's for people who use and throw you.... Don't use this on people with good nature and a kind heart).
Always stay close to one senior and one junior..... For the first year observe everyone and then find a senior who is helpful and has good connections inside and outside campus.... Believe me you'll thank me later for this, and also find a junior who obeys and follows your instructions and guide him on how to survive this college life and how to ignore assholes.
Love is crap..... Don't fall for this trap..... All it'll do is waste a lot of your time..... See, girls will never date a boy who is not serious about his future and if you're really serious you'll never fall for girls.... There's a quote, "Stop chasing butterflies and instead build a garden that attracts butterflies", so do gym, work hard, upgrade skills, do good internships and projects, wear good, smell good and eat good.... So the day you'll be graduating, you will be proud of yourself.
Respect your parents.... Call them everyday and tell them how much you love them and how grateful you are..... And if possible try for scholarships or do something productive so you can give at least a small amount towards your college fees....
Fix a plan and make a target and work accordingly, it is really helpful..... Avoid getting backlogs..... And yes, whatever you do, also get some time for yourself in a week to enjoy and watch some movie, play games, eat your favourite food.... Do whatever you love, just don't die.... Until we meet again....